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January/February 2011 issue	Table of Contents Boreal Forest Agreement On the bio-pathway British Columbia Darkwoods Canadian trees, British forests Medicines in the Congo Effects of urban trees The social side of wildfires Bringing back the fish Big trees feed the forest The Inside Story Editor’s Notebook Reverberations In habitat Book Reviews Mosaic ----------------------------------------------- Past issues

Required reading
The article “Still waiting” (December 2010), about the appalling state of education for the children of the Cree community of Attawapiskat, Ont., left me outraged. I am a Canadian citizen living in Oregon, and a teacher of 31 students in the fourth and fifth grades. I am usually extremely proud to be Canadian, and I have continually promoted Canada, but now my enthusiasm is dampened and I am quite embarrassed. As an educator, I am outraged that this situation has con - tinued for so many years without resolve.

I respectfully request and strongly encourage a personal and public commitment from Prime Minister Stephen Harper that plans for a new school will be an immediate priority and that immediate action will be taken to break ground on a state-of-the-art building. The children of Attawapiskat deserve as good an education as any child anywhere in Canada, or the world. Enough is enough.

Colleen Hallas
Gresham, Oregon

The article on the plight of the children of Attawapiskat is heartbreaking, especially after hearing about the substantial wages, travel expenses and honoraria paid to elected native band politicians in Canada [listed in federal documents obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation].

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada has been a mess for many years. I hope the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development has the courage and commitment to change this department for the betterment of all First Nations. But I would not hold my breath waiting. The answer then-Minister Chuck Strahl gave to a 13-year-old child who had guts enough to challenge him was so degrading that he should be ashamed.

Robert Lovell
Tofield, Alta.

The story about Attawapiskat is a heartfelt and truthful tale of government neglect and lost opportunity. The photography underscores with blinding clarity the evidence of broken promises and the indomitable hope and resilience that this northern Cree community demonstrates.

Public school board trustees in Ontario have joined the Shannen’s Dream campaign and will continue to advocate for fair and equitable educational opportunities for First Nations children. It is shameful that children in Attawapiskat and many other First Nations communities live with the negative consequences of systemic inequality. Our provincial schools receive more funding to educate a First Nations student than on-reserve First Nations schools do.

Congratulations to Canadian Geographic for outstanding coverage of the profound challenges that continue to face our First Nations communities. This article should be required reading for every government representative with responsibility for this situation and who, 10 years on, continues to fail these children and their families.

Catherine Fife
President, Ontario Public School Boards’ Association
Toronto

Grave heart
“Snowed under” (“In habitat,” December 2010) by Leah Sandals hit home with me. I clearly remember going through the same experience when I visited my parents’ gravesite last winter. Unerringly, I walked to their grave. Sandals is right: it’s impossible to forget. I suspect her article tugged at a lot of heartstrings.

Drew Preston
Dartmouth, N.S.

Supply and demands
The article “Water for a dry land” (October 2010) by Allan Casey addresses important issues that need further investigation. Unpredictable weather resulting from climate change has severely reduced our ability to forecast the water supply originating from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Past research has shown how we can increase water supply during peak flow through forest management, notably by using different harvesting patterns. Other studies have taught us how to maintain functioning ecosystems by considering environmental impacts in coordination with society’s demands.

Scientists are starting to understand what questions to ask to improve water management in the Prairie provinces. As a student of forest management, I support Casey’s call for more hydrological research on the eastern slopes, based on the fact that better understanding leads to improved management decisions.

Sara Bence
Alberta School of Forest Science & Management
University of Alberta
Edmonton

The only way to adapt to climate change is to seriously reduce greenhouse- gas emissions. Anything else is a waste of time. Using more fossil fuels and concrete to buttress our infrastructure is a mug’s game that will have to be repeated as the effects of man-made climate change accelerate. Using revenue now from non-renewable energy sources to fund the necessary transition to renewable sources is how we must adapt.

Mike Bray
Indian Head, Sask

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* Letters may be edited for length, accuracy and liability.